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Recovery of used syringes and needles

Integrated Used Syringe and Needle Recovery System (SIRSAU)

The integrated used syringe and needle recovery system (SIRSAU) aims to securely collect needles and syringes that have been used by:

  • People who take certain medical treatments at home, such as diabetes injections
  • People who inject drugs

These people can get a free container for safe disposal (sharps disposal container) by simply requesting one in any of the following places:

  • Community pharmacies
  • Injection Equipment Access Centers (CAMIs) located in some, but not all, community organizations, CLSCs and hospitals
  • Outpatient diabetes clinics and diabetes education centres located in CLSCs or hospitals

Public or private health care facilities, such as CHSLDs and private seniors’ residences, must provide, at their expense, sharps disposal containers for their residents.

People who have received sharps disposal containers through SIRSAU can return them to:

  • Community pharmacies
  • CLSCs
  • Hospitals
  • Community organizations that distribute new injection equipment

These organizations take back the containers free of charge.

SIRSAU is in place throughout all off Québec. The used syringe and needle recovery system comes in addition to other existing services, including:

  • The collection of biomedical waste by CLSCs and hospitals.
  • The installation of syringe collection boxes in outdoor public places.
  • The collection of used needles and syringes by volunteers.

Last update: July 7, 2017

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